Regarding the photo taken the school playground in 1952, does anybody remember any of the names of the children? I have been looking at the faces and can remember some of the names I think, even though I was a few years older.

What happy memories your pictures brought. I started school in 1944 and went on to Woodingdean. I was taught by many of these teachers. Mr. Beech was my favourite. I think it is me second row from back extreme right. Please contact.

I started at St. John the Baptist in 1948, and I certainly remember the name of Jackie Gladwell even though it seems that we were years apart in the school. I was also taught by Mr. Beech in Class 3a if I remember rightly. He was a gentle, kind teacher, one of the best. The next class up was 4a where Mr. McQuaid was the taskmaster. I was in the choir in 4a and Mr. McQuaid was a devil for lobbing stuff at you, especially the blackboard rubber and chalk, he had a filthy temper if somebody sang a bit flat. I was with the first year that went to Woodingdean in 1954 where our teacher was Miss Long in Class 1a, she was also the girls' PE teacher. Jackie - I first saw your name on Friends Reunited and it rang a bell as did some other names. One of these days I will pay my update fee and have a real look into the past. Best wishes.

I was at St John the Baptist from 1950. Teachers there were Mr Mcquaid, Mr. Marney, Mr. Goodman, Miss DeMohun, Miss Jean Groundsell. I would love to see any pictures of that era, if any around please contact.

I attended here for a year before it moved to Woodingdean, also my sister Bridget and brother Tom (surname was Gillespie). I remember Mr Marney, Miss De Mohun and Sister Augustus. It seems a lifetime ago now. I would love to hear anyone's memories from this time.

I also attended St John the Baptist from 1950 until I left, with my family, to emigrate to the U.S. in 1954. In addition to Miss De Mohun and Sister Augustus I remember Mr. Crowley, Mr. Carolan and Mr. McNeil. My whole family attended the school. Anyone remember Allen, Pat, Betty and Thommy Waller? Wonderful memories.

Hello Maureen Caroll. Are you the Maureen Caroll who lived up by the Sussex County Hospital? If so I do remember you from schooldays. I think you were a year older than me.

Hello Vera, yes I am the person you mean. I lived at Eastern Road and I do remember you as Vera Bridger. Hope you are well, and are you living locally? I live in Hove.

Hello Maureen Caroll - I would love to hear from you. My email address is: vera.wakefield@tiscali.co.uk

I attended St John The Baptist School from 1959 to 1963 after which I returned with my parents to the then Malaya. My brother and I were the only "foreign" students to attend the school at that time and I must say, I still hold fond memories of my time there. If by any chance there is anyone out there who remembers the two Chinese boys, I would like to hear from you. We use to live on the seafront at Marine Parade. My email is channieuk@yahoo.co.uk

I was one of the girls from the convent next door to St John the Baptist.  I started school aged 5 in 1950.  I remember the alley somebody mentioned in an earlier comment as that was the route we girls came through to school from the convent. I remember Sister Gertrude was a gentle person and used to take singing in the convent.  I can't remember if she did at school too!  Does anybody remember me or any of the convent girls? There was a sweet shop over the road where we used to get our penny and halfpenny and even farthing sweeties. I can remember learning to play jacks sat on the steps near the gate. My email address is waller.geoffrey@gmail.com if any one wants to contact me, I live in France now. I went on to Fitzherbert when I was old enough too.

I am in the photo having made my first holy communion.  I am in the second row, first girl on the right. My name is Linda George. Would love to hear from any of you.  Also regarding the school photo in 1952, I know those faces so well and think I may have been in your classes at some stage as I started school in 1952 in the Infants.  Lovely to see this as I have not got either of these photos.

I went to St John the Baptist school when it was in Kemp Town.  I remember the school bus that took us from Whitehawk to the school each day.  Mr O'Shea was the headmaster.  Lots of very happy memories.

Sorry, I made a mistake in my previous entry; I started school in 1949, not 1944, which is the year of my birth. I'd love to hear from anyone; I now live in Australia.

Hi Eddie Waller, Yes if you are who I think you are my family knew you. My sister Rosemary was a friend of Betty's. Did you live in Elm Grove? If so, please correspond. j.soutar@ecu.edu.au

Hi Jackie, yes we are the Waller's of Elm Grove and my sister Betty was very good friends with your sister Rosemary. I also remember Rosemary as she used to visit us in Elm Grove. I will E-mail you and I know Betty will be happy to hear the news. We all live in the States now. All the best.

Sorry I put the wrong date in my previous entry, I started School in 1949, which is why you remember me John. Other children I remember in the class photo are Ralph, Ashley, Patricia, Shirley, Christobel, Sylvia, Georgina, Marie and Carol. Mick, do you have a sister Geraldine? My email address is printed in another entry - would love to hear from anyone who remembers me, especially Vera.

I started at St. John the Baptist in 1948. I remember Sister Gertrude and the convent garden we walked through to take needlework lessons (girls only) from her. Mr Beach (Beech?) was my favorite, although I also liked Miss Thornten who trained us for the 11+ exam. My e-mail address is getdaisy@comcast.net and I live in San Francisco. I would love to hear from any classmates. I did see one, Desmond Lynam, when he was in the US once.

I was at St John the Baptist from 1950 and remember Miss Demohune, Miss Grounsell and especially Mr Caroline, my form teacher, always going very red reprimanding Joey Allen. I remember Magaret Halpin, Rita Walters, Jean Gardiner and Angela (can't remember her surname, but she sang in the choir and had a lovely voice). Would love to see any photos of that time or contact any one in that class.

I also travelled on the bus from Whitehawk to St. John The Baptist. I remember Sr Anthony, Sr Gertrude, Sr Mary, Mrs Riedy, Mrs Bronson, Miss Smith and the head Mr O Shea. I have fond memories of the May procession and the crowning of Our Lady in the convent garden. Our communion photographs were also taken there among the flowers.I attended between 1969 to 1975.I live in Ireland now with my family.Regards to everyone

Eddie Waller please would you contact me again I have lost your email address.

Jackie, thanks. I am now in contact with Anthony and I will get back to you soon.

Hi all I went to St John the Bapt,ist in 1950 at Bedford Street, then on to the school in Woodingdean when it changed to Fitzherbert in 1960. The year I left was 1961; I must say I can remember some good times from both schools. just wondering if anyone out there remembers me, it was a long time ago now.

I attended St John the Baptist around 196 0- 1967 before going to fitzherbert; my surname then was Jarmakowicz and I lived in Kemp Town with my brother called Richard. Does anyone remember me?

In response to Mick Peirson's question about the 1952 group photo (Mr. Beach - teacher). I am in the photo (second row, second girl from left- Celia Marini). I recognize Peter Guy, Ashley Hammer, Adrian Downey, Ralph ?, Maureen Chase, Madeline Maloney, Christine Carrington, Sonia Hurst and Jaqueline Tovey. Other names may come back too me. I have been living in Rochester, New York for the past 40 years now.

I remember a John Eaton who had a brother named Jimmy. I also had a brother Michael and a sister Teresa. Anybody remember me?  I left Fitzeherbert in 1962.  I remember the head, Mr Ivory, and Mr Crowley, Mr Lesser and Mr Caiens the gym teacher. Get in touch if you remember me.

Hello. Going back to the first holy communion picture: my two sisters are in the third row, but the question I will have to ask them is where is my brother he should have been in that picture too. Jacki and him are twins so one is missing. So working dates back there could have been five of us at that school at the same time from one family. So it could have been Maureen, Stephen, Jacki, Ronald and Garry Grey at that school same time. Poor teachers!

I see the names and remember a lot of them. I was at the Eastern Road School seniors then over in Woodingdean. Does anyone know Lily Daly, Colleen Hogan, Maureen Grout, Sheila Kaufman - all in my year?

William Stapleton - yes I do have a brother Jimmy were you in his class? Jimmy being Jimmy will not use a computer, he will only use a trowel and bucket of cement to lay a few bricks.

Celia - did you have a sister Bernadette? To the person asking about Lily Daly you can contact her through her brother Anthony at the FRIENDS REUNITED site.

I was a boarder at the convent from about 1957 - 1962 with my sister Brigida. We and three sisters Monica, Angela and Irene Nolan were the last boarders at the convent if I remember correctly. Of course life in the convent was very different to that at the school which we used to attend but I remember the daily walk through the archway, the convent courtyard and our private entrance into the church.Yes Mr Beech was a lovely, gentle man and I believe there were lots of nudge nudge wink wink from us kids as he always seemed to be chatting to Miss Gregory at the top of the stairs when we came in from the playground.

I went to St. John's secondary in 1950 and when it went to Woodingdean. I remember Barry Sullivan, Diane Short, Paddy May, Tony Cavadaschi?, Tessa Clayton, and of course my good friend Bridget Gillespie and brother Tommy from when I lived in Crabtree Avenue, Hollingbury. Anybody remember me?

I started at Kemp Town then went to Woodingdean. Bob Terry went there. We lived in Lower Bevendean at the time. I used to walk to school. I left in 1956 - does anyone remember me?

My name is Robert Jenkins, also known as Bob or Bobby. I went to St Johns Sec Mod in Woodingdean from 1960 to 1964. It would be nice to talk with anyone who went to this school at that time.

Just wanted to add some more details to previous note. I remember some of the teachers: Mr Ivory was the Headmaster, Mr Crowley, Miss DeMohun and Mr McIntyre. I would love to make contact with anyone from the period 1960 to 1964 and although I don't remember having a class picture taken, if anyone has pictures they could share that would be great. I live in the USA now but would like any contact. email address: robertjenkins999@aol.com

I would love to have a copy of any pictures that any of you may have of me at school in either St John the Baptist primary 1952-1961 or Fitzherbert Secondary Modern school at Woodingdean. 1961-1964. I have only one picture of my school day (Holy communion) and as my children are reproducing, it would be great to have comparative photos. Linda George, Australia.

Hi, my name is Chantal Dhillon. I am aged 10 and I attend the St John the Baptist RC School now. It is an excellent school.

I started at SJB, Bedford Street in 1951 and left - from Woodingdean - in 1955. I know Maureen Carroll (and it was amazing to read Eddie (then 'Teddy') Waller's message because I actually remember him leaving for the States. He was good at soccer and someone told me that he played for a NY team. Is that correct Eddie? My friends were Vic Sambucci, Dennis Crook and Joey Harland who joined the RAF. Our headmaster was Mr O'Hara, known as 'Kong'. When he strapped you (yep, I got strapped I'm ashamed to say) he made you thank him, because he had put you on the right path. Other names: Sean O'Grady, Peter Heffernen, John Blundell, Pat Wells (I can see you in my mind's eye Pat), Paddy May, Barry Sullivan (we nearly joined the army together), Tony (and his younger brother Ronnie) Cavadaschi. Remember Mr Liddell and the ATC, which it was prudent to join? And of course Miss Grounsell (?), Miss DeMohun, Mr Crowley and Mr Goodman. It was really nice reading the list of messages, the memories began surging back. I still worship in SJB Church. Best wishes to all.

Wow! I have only recently spotted this on the web and am amazed and delighted to see all the comments. My first school in 1949. I left SJB in 1955 to go to Dorothy Stringer as we moved to Preston Park. Mr Beech, a true Gentleman, Sr Gertrude, Sr Mary, Hogan, McQuaid (Oh he of Percy the strap). Does anyone remember Miss Milligan from the Infants? She was my first love. Horrified and yet pleased to see the photo of 1952 as what in heavens name was I wearing? Anyone remember me? Email me as I would love to chew the cud over old times.

How could I forget? My sister Barbara was also at SJB and preceded me by six years. Does anyone remember her please? My email is remnah24@ntlworld.com if anyone remembers either of us. Thank you.

Names I remember in my class at SJB, Peter Guy, Deidre Field, Cavan Butler, Anthony Palmer, Dorothy Adams, Christobel Hogan, Maureen Chase, Philip Downey, Sonia Hurst and Celia Marini. I would love to hear from anyone who remembers me.

Haven't looked at this page for a while, would like to add a few more comments. Yes Ashley I remember you, it is you in the first photo in the top row, second from left, I believe. Michael Hicks did you have a brother Terry? Janice Leach (nee Prosser) I think I remember you. Did you live in Sussex Gardens? I lived nearby in Chesham Road. Did you know Christine Harding? Paddy May, who others have mentioned, lived near me also, near the Odeon Kemptown Cinema, she was keen on my brother Tony. I am visiting Brighton (from Australia) in August 2010, and looking forward to catching up with old friends.

Popped back today to see if anyone has added anything and saw Jackie's comments. I sent you an email about 3 or 4 weeks ago Jackie but it was returned. Have you changed it lately? My email address is remnah24@ntlworld.com if you feel inclined to write.

Yes Ashley, I have a new email address. I am sending you an email. If anyone else who knows me would like to correspond, it is - soutar@iprimus.com.au

Please note, anyone interested, that FRIENDS REUNITED is a free site.

Hello to anyone that may / will remember me. I started SJB Primary in 1954 till 1961, we lived in Denton Drive Hollingbury, then Whitehawk, moving to Hallett Road 1958'ish. We attended St John Baptist Church Bristol Road and Bernadettes Catholic shop was across the road, the Catholic Club was also across the road from the school hall. My mum and her best friend Margaret Whitman and a couple of other ladies used to run the 'Greensleeves Ladies Club' on a Friday afternoon. My mum and my Aunt Margaret and two other ladies also did the church cleaning on a Wednesday afternoon and came to the Sacristy window at our break time to wave to me and friends.
I only 'found' this site 4 days ago via Fitzherbert (previously known as SJB Sec Mod School at Woodingdean). It's been lovely to read comments and to remember some lovely teachers and pupils too. I started writing my life story in a draft form 3 to 4 years ago, so some of the names meant a lot during my school years. Mr Hogan was our Head Master just followed Mr McQuaid. Mr Hogan used to take our morning assembly in the hall and used to take snuff each morning out of a small silver container. (I / we didn't know then what it was!) Lovely, lovely Mr Flanaghan was our Deputy Head, he was brilliant, firm, gentle kind and good fun! He used to teach / check us with our mental maths and spellings on a Friday afternoon after break, we'd all stand on our chairs and he'd quickly point to someone and give a word to spell and you stayed on your chair till you got an answer wrong - the last one standing used to choose a 'prize snack' from the school tuck shop. I often used to win at spellings, not at maths though! I used to choose either potato puffs or penny tea cakes and I still love them now, but potato puffs are very hard to come by. Mr Flanaghan was teacher of Yr 4, Mr Beech Yr 5, Sr Mary Mercy Yr 3, where we were taught italic writing from our first week with her, and the class entered many a schools' competition with our work. I still write italic now (known now as Caligraphy). Also a girl and boy joined the school this year from Hungary - Manfred the boy was in the year above us, and Helga Schwarb was put in with us. They couldn't speak any English, but at break-times Helga used to crochet and so over the weeks about 6-8 of us girls learnt to crochet. I still crochet now (a lot) and in 1968 I crocheted a wedding dress for a 3rd yr student nurse friend in Kent so they could get married, it cost £3-19s & 6d! And I have a beautiful photo to remind me of that and also Helga, so if you see this Helga thank you for your time and patience! We all became good friends.
Miss Gregory Yr ?2, Sr Gertrude Yr 2, Miss Greengo downstairs top class of Infants, Sr Marie Therese 2nd Yr Infants, Sr Anthony 1st Year Infants. Children I remember at this time: Linda White, Madeline Challoner, Veronica Provost, Kathleen Kay, Teresa Stapleton (Hi, Jimmy, say hello to Teresa for me, I'd love to chat with her on here one day soon), Ralph Hurren, Robert Cunningham, Daniel Alexander, Catherine Alexander (no relation to Daniel) but she had a sister named Theresa too, Sean Geoghan, Patrick Flynn, Madeline Marini Marcella Gunstone, Pat Uwins, Rosalind Davey. I'm sure there's many that haven't come to mind yet! Yes, I too remember the 1st Communion preparation, practices in church and the Sunday afternoon May Processions in honour of our lady: following her beautiful statue adorned with spring flowers around the square of Bristol Road, saying the Decades of the Rosary and in between each 10 Hail Marys we sung The Loudres Hymn. Such lovely special times as the boys often wore their Communion red ties and the girls their Holy Communion dresses and veils on those Sundays. The Convent nuns used to hold a 'Grand Summer Garden Party' in the convent and gardens, schools rooms, playgrounds and school hall. Their Tombola was said to be 'one of the best' at any Brighton Garden Party as the Tombola prizes were 'all bottles' and not just lemonade / squashes! We had fun for weeks prior to this event, as Mum and her friends (lots of my friends' mums) used to all help and my dad used to bake lots of fairy cakes, rock cakes, scones, and sponges, as I do now for charity / fundraising events at church / schools etc. Well its been great writing this and the memories are now flooding back, but enough for now, keep in touch.

Vera should you check this page-- have you changed your email address? please write.

Oh my goodness...how the memories come flooding back..well not all of them. I was at St. John the Baptist in 1953-59. Every Weds or was it Thurs Mass in the morning. Served as altar boy. Some of the names mentioned in other posts are familiar. For some reason Danuta Grant springs to mind. For some other obscure reason I remember the annual physicals where part of it was us boys had to pull down our pants for the nurse to examine us and if we were anything but limp she would strike our privates with a ruler. Wow, why did that memory come back!

To Jackie Soulter - Hello - yes, I have a brother Terry Hicks, also Bob.

Michael, did Terry go to St John the Baptist? We are having a reunion in June, he might like to join us?

To Jane Soultar. Yes, Terry went to St John the Baptist - he lives in Keymer, Sussex.

I was a boarder at the Convent from 1953 - 1954. I was in the infants' dormitary and my bed was next door to the nun's bed with a curtain, when I used to wake during the night I used to wonder did they ever go to asleep, she would have a candle burning which would not happen these days. I also remember wearing veils and going around the streets. My partner and I still pop down and see the sisters as a couple of them would have been there when I was there.

Michael (Hicks) - if your brother Terry would like to come to our reunion in Brighton in June of this year, or correspond, if he remembers me, he can contact me - jsoutar39@gmail.com. I live in Australia but will be home this Summer. Jackie Soutar (nee Gladwell).

JANE, I WILL CONTACT HIM. I LIVE IN AUSTRALIA AS WELL (PERTH).

Michael, I live in Perth too! Jackie.

Re Terry - he tried your email address, came back 'no longer in use'. Terry's email address is: hassocks100@sky.com. I left sjp in 1956.

Michael, no reply from Terry at this email address?

I can't remember exactly when I was at St. John the Baptist! We moved to Brighton from London when I was 5, and I started out at St. Mary Magdalen, then moved to St. John the Baptist, then moved to St. Joseph's, then moved back to St. John the Baptist, then to Fitzherbert, and on passing the 13+ got moved to Westlain Grammar. I know I had my first communion at St. John the Baptist, so that must have been 1959 when I was 7. I remember having our communion pictures taken in the convent gardens. Mr. Hogan was the headmaster - I remember his constant snuff-taking. Mr. Beech was a wonderful teacher - think I had him for year 6? I remember Sister Gertrude - she was so lovely and gentle - and another nun who was a dragon! Obsessive about teaching italic handwriting above everything else! Think she was my year 5 teacher. My best friend was a girl called Daniella whose mum was Italian. Lived just up on the corner with Eastern Road. Another friend was a girl called Teresa who was a gypsy, and only attended school for part of each year. I remember one year she missed even more time because she'd jumped out of the caravan onto an upturned broken bottle which went right through her foot and caused serious damage!

Now in touch with Terry, thanks Michael.

I went to St John the Baptist in 1959 and I was one of the few non catholics there. I lived in Bloomsbury place, Kemp Town. I only remember Sister Gertrude, she used to have a raffle and I still have a needle case she made. I also won a book called 'Lost World of Everest' which I wasn't very impressed with. I was called Pamela Farley then. Happy days.

My wife Mary Newman went to SJB. She went on to Woodingdeen after that. She lived in George St. She can't remember when she went to SJB, but she was born in 1947. Does anybody remember her?

I also went to this school in Kemp Town. Does anyone remember Mr. Carolyn or the air cadets and Mr. Liddell? This was before the move. Mr. O'Hara, Ms de Mohun, Ms Grounsell and the fill-in music teacher? I have been in Canada since 1966, married, 3 kids and also grandchildren. Keep it going and God bless

Yes, I remember all of them Barry, especially Squadron Leader Liddell, (eh - eh! Are you in the ATC boy?) We were of course, Squadron 2234 East Brighton. As I put on one of the other Fitzherbert pages a while ago. I did go to the re-union, mentioned above, last year but there was no-one from my year there although several remembered my younger brother Martin if only by name. I left in October 1956 to help run the garage as my father's business partner was ill and I never got round to going back to the school to do GCEs. My brother continued until July 1957 and shortly after that we moved to Kent. There was a Hicks in our class I think, that name is familiar. If Mick Peirson reads this get in touch; Mick you changed your email and they are returned, mine is still the same. Regards to all, TCS.

Hello Tim, I was a cadet with 2234 Squadron and so were Terry and Bob.

I was also a member of the 2234 squadron ATC when I was at school. Best fun I ever had at that age. We were stationed in Warwick Street in the annex opposite a British Road Services depot where I worked years later as a driver. I spent a never forgotten two weeks with the squadron at St. Athan in Wales. St. Athan was a maintenance depot for the RAF. I was enthralled one day by seeing a Victor and a Valiant bomber doing touch and go landings on the runway, such overwhelming power. I was lucky enought to have a flight in a Chipmunk (with parachute) and also a long flight over Devon in an Avro Anson. On the way back I lost my beret putting my head out of the train window in a long tunnel. Mr. Liddell as mentioned was our CO. I was in his class 5 at the end of my school life. Good days that gave me an insight into the way that the military worked as I joined the army later on in life. For Tim Sargeant my e-mail address is mike.peirson43@btinternet.com 

So nice to see all the comments again, haven't visited the site for a couple of years - does anyone remember me? I was one of the convent girls, went to infant, junior and senior schools, from 1950 to 1964. I remember Irene Dunn, Pat Ullah, Micheal Timoney, Davil Cheverton, Alvin Curd, Christine Knoblesdorf, Zilla Minster, Isobel Denahey, and all the teachers mentioned above: happy days. I remember the summer fete the nuns had every year too - and yes it was a great tombola stall,